Ducks transform Honda Center into classroom

ANAHEIM – The parking lot was packed, the seats were filled, and the noise level rivaled that of a Stanley Cup Final.

But there was no game going on inside the Honda Center on Thursday afternoon.

Those boisterous fans in attendance were thousands of elementary school students, awaiting the arrival of the day's substitute teachers – the Anaheim Ducks.

For the 13th consecutive year, the Ducks and their Scholastic Curriculum of Recreation and Education program, or S.C.O.R.E., hosted the First Flight Field Trip. The program provides lessons in reading, science, math and physical education through the sport of hockey.

On Thursday, nearly 13,000 third- to sixth-graders converged at the Honda Center to participate in this year's event. More than 160 schools were represented, some making the day trip from Yermo, Temecula and Victorville.

"This is so awesome," said Latricia Scott, an after-school program director at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in Compton. "We are a project-based program that focuses on math and science, and this event correlated with exactly what we're learning every day. I never had field trips like this when I was growing up, but I wish I did."

"Turn up the energy" was the theme of this year's gathering, as students learned the components of energy through interactive exhibits in addition to studying the players while they practiced out on the ice.

Children sprinted from booth to booth to participate in all the hands-on activities the Ducks' had set up for them in the parking lot. From interactive-dance video games to taking slap shots on net, all the exhibits demonstrated using some type of energy.

When the booths closed up, it was time to head inside to watch practice.

Once everyone was seated, the lights in the arena went dim, Ducks mascot Wild Wing rappelled from the rafters and the players skated onto the ice, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

"That was my favorite part," said Abby Sotelo, a fourth-grade student from Fern Drive Elementary in Fullerton. "I wanted to see the players on the ice."

While the rest of the team practiced, several players addressed the students and explained how each part of practice exemplified the different types of energy – forwards represented kinetic energy with their constant movement, while goalies embodied potential energy, as they remained stationary and tried to stop the puck.

"We here that phrase, 'turn up the energy,' quite a bit," Ducks defenseman Luca Sbisa said to the crowd. "But usually it's not too good when we here it, because it means we're not playing with enough energy."

Students were quizzed during the practice on what they had learned. Some winners walked away with signed hockey sticks, while others won a Ducks Kids Club gift basket.

The day concluded with a skills competition, as the students watch from up-close and saw how skilled and talented the Ducks players really are.

The fourth-grade class from Running Springs Elementary School in Anaheim Hills was more than pleased, and several students exclaimed: "Best field trip ever!"